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Hackney Council
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to visit Hackney council to discuss transport policy. [25681]
Mr. Norris: My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Hackney council.
Sea Empress Oil Spill
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the chief inspector of the marine accidents investigation branch intends to interview the right hon. Members for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney), for South Norfolk (Mr. MacGregor) and for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) and Lord Goschen in connection with his investigation into the Sea Empress disaster. [27185]
Mr. Norris: The question of who MAIB inspectors should interview, and when, in the course of any investigation is a matter for the chief inspector of marine accidents.
Esso Mersey Explosion
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps were taken by the marine accidents investigation branch to contact Mill Bay Engineering concerning the inquiry into the explosion on board the Esso Mersey on 4 September 1991. [27184]
30 Apr 1996 : Column: 456
Mr. Norris: The marine accidents investigation branch has been in correspondence with Mill Bay Engineering Co. Ltd. on a regular basis in connection with the Esso Mersey investigation since 1993. The investigation was re-opened in September 1994 after the emergence of new evidence. Mill Bay Engineering Co. Ltd. was sent an advance copy of the report of the re-opened investigation in accordance with section 9(4) of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1994.
Marine Accidents Investigation Branch Reports
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the usual procedure for submitting draft reports of the marine accidents investigation branch to those individuals and organisations that are referred to or criticised in marine accidents investigation branch reports. [27186]
Mr. Norris: The procedures for submitting draft reports of inspector's inquiries undertaken by the marine accidents investigation branch to individuals and organisations which are criticised in them are governed by regulations 9(4) of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1994. There is no requirement relating to those who are only referred to in reports.
The regulations require that if, in the opinion of the chief inspector of marine accidents, the reputation of any person is likely to be adversely affected by the report, that person shall be served with a copy of the draft report or that part which affects him. That person is allowed a 28-day period to make representations to the chief inspector who must then consider the representations and notify the person(s) concerned of his conclusions and any changes he intends to make to the report. A further 28-day period is then allowed for the submission of alternative text by the person(s) where passages remain in dispute. Where alternative texts have been submitted, these are to be published as an appendix to the report unless the Secretary of State considers that there is good reason not to do so.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Social Security Agency
Mr. Thomason: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Social Security Agency for the current financial year. [27710]
Mr. Moss: The targets are included in the agency's 1996-97 business plan, which was published today. A copy of the plan will be placed in the Library. The targets are in line with the Government's policy of improving the service provided to customers and fully support the standards established in the Northern Ireland citizens charter. I am satisfied that the targets present a demanding challenge for the agency. They are as follows:
1. Benefit Clearance Times 1
Social fund crisis loans
On the day the need arises 2
Income support
71 per cent. in five days
90 per cent. in 13 days
30 Apr 1996 : Column: 457
Incapacity benefit
65 per cent. in 10 days
85 per cent. in 30 days
Child benefit
68 per cent. in 10 days
94 per cent. in 30 days
Family credit
60 per cent. in 13 days
95 per cent. in 42 days
Disability living allowance
65 per cent. in 30 days
85 per cent. in 53 days
Unemployment benefit
75 per cent. in 12 days
85 per cent. in 53 days
2. Benefit Accuracy
Income support
to pay the correct amount in at least 87 per cent. of cases
Incapacity benefit
to pay the correct amount in at least 94 per cent. of cases
Child benefit
to pay the correct amount in at least 98 per cent. of cases
Family credit
to pay the correct amount in at least 93 per cent. of cases
Disability living allowance
to pay the correct amount in at least 98 per cent. of cases
Unemployment benefit
to pay the correct amount in at least 97 per cent. of cases
3. customer satisfaction
3 90 per cent. of customers to regard the agency's service as satisfactory or better
4. financial recovery
recovery of social fund loans--£23.06 million
recovery of income support overpayments--£1.80 million
recovery of centralised benefits overpayments--£0.46 million
benefit savings from detection and prevention of fraud--£14 million
sign-offs as a result of anti-fraud activity--4,000 4
to carry out 3,000 national insurance contributions surveys, including 600 employer educational visits
identify £1.50 million class 1 arrears as a result of compliance work
recovery of social fund loans--£23.06 million
5. Resource Management
to live within a gross allocation of £36.61 million for social fund loans and community care grants
to live within the agency's gross budget allocation
to achieve cash efficiency savings of the order of £5.5 million Notes 1 In all cases, clearance time is measured from the date of receipt of a claim or application in the office to the date on which the claim or application is decided. The measure, therefore, excludes the time taken to issue notification of the decision and any payment. 2 Monitored against 95 per cent. in one day. 3 The customer satisfaction target covers a two-year period and will be measured by independent survey in 1996-97. 4 New target.
30 Apr 1996 : Column: 458
Free Bus Passes
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the annual cost of free bus passes in each education and library board area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [26594]
Mr. Ancram: The annual cost of concessionary tickets for use on public transport to each education and library board in the last five years is set out in the following table:
| 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 598 | 750 | 851 | 935 | 984 |
| North-eastern | 4,722 | 4,790 | 5,215 | 5,448 | 5,786 |
| South-eastern | 3,727 | 4,340 | 4,736 | 5,095 | 5,454 |
| Southern | 3,360 | 3,761 | 4,005 | 4,221 | 4,510 |
| Western | 1,894 | 2,544 | 3,009 | 3,040 | 3,144 |
| Total | 14,301 | 16,185 | 17,816 | 18,739 | 19,878 |
Pig Feed Plant, West Belfast
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement concerning the health implications of the blockage in the pig feed plant of Andrews Mill in west Belfast in February.[26541]
Mr. Moss: The problem was investigated by the Eastern health and social services board and Belfast city council environmental health department, who are satisfied that there are no health implications.
Local Government
Mr. Nicholas Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are currently being taken to revise and develop local government in Northern Ireland.[26542]
Mr. Ancram: Our aim is to strengthen democracy by returning more responsibility and accountability to locally elected representatives in Northern Ireland on a basis which is widely acceptable. The all-party negotiations commencing on 10 June offer an opportunity to move in this direction.
Prisons (Library Facilities)
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the costs of providing library facilities broken down by (a) books and (b) other costs at (i) the Maze prison and (ii) Maghaberry prison, in each of the last five years. [26732]
Sir John Wheeler: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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